Johnny Hoogerland, 26, has renegotiated his contract with the Vacansoleil team extending it through 2011. Team manager Daan Luijkx reached an agreement with Hoogerland on Wednesday. The Dutchman lit up the roads in the Tour of Spain and the Fall Classics, and despite not taking home a win, his attacking style made him a key protagonast that kept the action level high.
Earlier this season Hoogerland won the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen and showed his Classics potential with a 12th place in the Tour of Flanders. He rode aggressively throughout the Vuelta a España where he finished 12th overall.
The Spanish tour seemed to be just a warm-up for the Fall Classics, where he rode strongly in the World Championship road race in Mendrisio, Switzerland, and finished his season off with an impressive 5th in the Giro di Lombardia. Hoogerland’s strong ride in Lombardy was an emotional dedication to the late Frank Vandenbroucke, where he wore a shirt saying “pers te VDB”, that means “for you VDB”.
It has been a while since the peloton has seen a rider animate races so consistently, and the contract renegotiation is proof that Vacansoleil understands the popularity that comes with his “take no prisoners” style. The Dutchman’s heart hasn’t gone unnoticed beyond his team, earning him a nomination for the Dutch cyclist of the year. The results won’t be known until November 30.